Method for filling and assembling a compartmented pressurized dispensing device



Feb. 13, 1962 J. P. MODDERNO Filed July 8, 1958 Jy. f.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jo/uVzPau//l/odderzzo IN VENTOR www@ ATTORNEYS Feb. 13,1962 J. P. MoDDl-:RNO

3,020,688 METHOD FOR FILLING AND ASSEMBLING A COMPARTMENTED PRESSURIZEDDISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aff/0 s INVENTOR lJalmfl//l/oddemo ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1962 J. P. MoDDERNo 3,020,688

METHOD FOR FILLING AND ASSEMBLING A COMPARTMENTED PRESSURIZED DISPENSINGDEVICE Filed July 8. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS 3,020,688 METHODFOR FILLING AND ASSEMBLING A COMPARTMENTED PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICEJohn Paul Modderno, Gambrills, Md., assigner to Modern-Lab.,Incorporated, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed July 8,1958, Ser. No. 747,293 Claims. (Cl. 53-36) This invention relates tomethods for filling and assembling compartmented pressurized dispensingdevices. More particularly, the invention relates to the formation of anintermediate container unit by sealing the marginal edge of a plianthlm-type container to the edge of a dispensing closure to form an innercontainer unit and then filling of the unit with material to bedispensed, processing to effect sterilization of the material, andhermetically sealing the unit over an outer container havingpressureproducing medium therein to form a lled compartmented dispensingdevice.

` The introduction of compartmented pressurized dispensing devices inthe aerosol eld for dispensing products that must be treated, such as bysterilization in the case of foods, has developed problems as to lillingthe compartment that is to contain the dispensable material and handlingthe material for processing after it is in the cornpartment. Theproblems arefurther complicated where the material to be dispensed mustat all times be kept separate from the dispensing medium, as disclosedin my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 673,395, filed July 22,1957, or where ingredients of the product must be kept separate untiltime of use when they are mixed by rupturing the wall dividing thecompartments, as described in my co-pending applications for LettersPatent, Serial Nos. 614,014 (forfeited) and 650,140 (forfeited) filedOctober 4, 1956and April 2, 1957, respectively. For example, if thegas-producing medium is rst locked in the one compartment and thematerial to be dispensed placed in the other compartment, heatprocessing of the package brings about a rapid exhaustion of thegasproducing medium with an undesirable expansion of the gas so that thepressure in the pressure-producing cornpartment either ruptures the wallbetween the compartments or forces the material out of the container. Ifhermetic sealing is delayed until after heat-processing of the aboveassembly, processing still exhausts a portion of the gas-producingmedium and a low-pressure dispensing device is produced which isunusable.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, this invention contemplatesthe formation of an inner container unit by attaching the marginal edgeof a pliant film-type sac, bag, or inner container to the marginal edgeof a dispensing closure head having an opening for a valve means orvalve means sealed therein. The marginal edge of the inner container canbe secured to the edge of the closure head, `such as by mechanicalmeans, heat sealing, cementing, or in any other manner so that an innercontainer unit is formed with the closure head acting as a support andthe inner container depending therefrom. This innerrcontainer unit canbe handled easily and filled with the material to be dispensed inproduction-like operation by utilizing the closure head as a supportingand handling means for transporting the handling means for transportingthe unit by modern methods of conveyor belt or mechanization in acontinuous or semi-continuous manner.

The filling of the inner container unit can be accomplished eitherthrough the valve means in the closure head or through the opening inthe closure before the valve means is hermetically sealed thereto andthenA processed to treat the material to be dispensed, such as byautoclaving, ray energy, heating without pressure, or the like.Processing may be accomplished before the valve means is hermeticallysealed in the closure head or, if the valve means is in place, with thevalve open to permit Volatile constituents to escape. If the volatilematerials in the inner container will not exert under the processingtreatment an abnormal pressure within the inner container unit, thevalve means may be closed after filling and the unit subjected to thetreatment.

The processed inner container unit can then be easily handled andassembled in an outer container (which like- WiSe can be treated for thepurpose of sterilization). The outer container can have apressure-producing medium,

such as a pellet of carbon dioxide which, upon sublima-Y tion, producescarbon dioxide gas at ambient temperatures, or a volatilizable liquid orother gas-producing media deposited therein before the closure head ishermetically Sealed to the outer container to form the compartmenteddevice. Advantageously, the sterilized inner container unit can behermetically sealed to the outer container as heretofore describedwithout the pressure-producing medium therein and the assembly chargedwith a pressureproducing material by, for example, puncturing the outerwall of the pressure-producing compartment, charging with a gas, andsealing the gas therein; or in the case of rupturable inner containers,by passing the gas through the valve into the compartment having thematerial to bev dispensed.

The edge of the inner surface of the dispensing closure may also containan elastomer-like lm (such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive) so that anoutwardly extending lip of a preformed pliant film-type sac can besecured thereto to form an hermetically sealed inner container unit.This elastomer-like film can act not only as a means for securing theedge of the sac to the closure but can also act as a sealing gasket tokeep the edge vof the sac out of contact with the metal surface of theclosure. In like manner, the edge of an outer open-end container canalso have an elastomer-like lm or gasket thereon which serves to providean additional seal between the marginal edge of the sac and the edge ofthe open-end outer con-V tainer, as described in my application forLetters Patent entitled Pressurized Dispensing Device led concurrentlyherewith. The clamping of the edge of the closure by rolling, clinching,or swedging over the edge of the open-end container, when assembled asheretofore described, produces an hermetically sealed compartmenteddispensing device with the bottom compartment being under gas pressureand the upper compartment containing sterilized product, eachcompartment hermetically sealed from the other. f

In the assembly in which an elastomer-like seal is provided between themetal beaded edge of the outer container and the marginal edge of thesac forming the wall which separates the container into compartments,and between the edge of the sac and the clamped dispensing closure,there is formed a bottom compartment which, when charged with gas tofull operating pressure, is tightly sealed due to the liquid-likeplastic gasket or seal. This type of sealing prevents the escape of gasand reduces the loss of pressure during shelf-life. It has been foundthat this assembly is very advantageous, particularly where the wallseparating the container into compartments is to be ruptured, foradouble seal on each side ofthe marginal edge of the sac is provided sothat a tight joint is effected which prevents gas from leaking from thecontainer. In addition, the stress and strain on the marginal edge ofthe sac caused by the separation of the product to be dispensed from thepressure-exerting medium is buffered and cushioned so that cracking,puncturing, o r rupturing of the marginal edge is prevented. v Thus,there is assured a pressurized dispensing container which has a PatentedFeb. 13, 1962.

3 good shelf-life and is consistent in its dispensing operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for producing anhermetically sealed compartmented pressurized dispensing device havingtreated material therein.

Another object of the -invention is to provide an inner container unitin which the marginal edgeof an inner container is secured `to themarginal edge of a dispensing clo sure -head to facilitate the fillingand handling thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method offilling .an inner container unit of a compartmented pressurizeddispensing device so that the assembly of the device and the processingof the material to be dispensed can be accomplished in a simplified andeconomical manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process for producing afilled compartmental pressurized dispensing device in which the marginaledge of an inner container is secured to a closure head to form an innercontainer unit, the contents to be dispensed deposited therein throughthe closure head an sterilized therein, the inner container depended inan open-end container, and the outer periphery of the closure rolled,clinched, or swedged to the edge ofthe open-end container.

Additional objects of the invention will 'become apparent from anexamination ofthe drawings, specification and appended claims.

The invention will be described further in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which are to be considered an exemplification ofthe invention and do not constitute limitation thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a flow diagram showing the steps for accomplishing themethods forming a part of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of a compartmentedpressurized dispensing device having an inner container, its marginaledge hermetically sealed between an elastomer-covered vbeaded edge of anouter container and a dispensing closure, with the material to bedispensed therein under pressure;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of an inner containerunit Vshowing the marginal edge of the inner container attached to themarginal edge of a dispensing closure with arrow indication for fillingof the inner container with material to be dispensed;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the component parts of a pressurizeddispensing `device forming a part of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a .cross-sectional view in elevation of a modified form ofthe device shown in FIGURE 4; and

'FIGURE 6 -is a fragmentary cross-sectional view in elevation of amodified form of the device shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE l illustrates a iow diagram showingsteps for accomplishing the methods forming a part of this invention forcharging a compartmented dispensing device to produce a processing ofthe materials to be dispensed. The dispensing device can consist of anopen-top outer container 16 having a bottom portion 11 and a cylindricalside portion 12. The side portion 12 extends from the bottom portion andterminates in an outwardly extending curled beaded edge 13 which definesan opening in the top of the container. The beaded edge 13 has appliedthereto an elastomer-like film or gasket 14 which covers a major portionof the exposed surface of the beaded edge. Disposed within the containervis a pliant film-type inner container 15 which may be preformed to fitthe sides of the container 10. Extending outwardly from the innercontainer is a lip 16 which may be performed and curled over theelastomer-covered beaded edge 13. Seated on the lip 16 is a cup-shapeddispensing closure 17 having an annular inverted channel18. Thecup-shaped closure defines an annular beaded edge opening 19 adapted toreceive an annular insert 20 with valve means 21 secured thereto foreffecting communication between the upper compartment and theatmosphere. The annular insert is hermetically sealed to the annularopening in the closure 17 by forming of the marginal edge 22 of theannular insert 20 around beaded edge 19 of the closure. The annularchannel is secured to engage lip 16 in snug fitting relationship byelastomer-like film 14a so that rolling, clinching or swedging of thechannel 18 around the beaded edge 13 produces an hermetically sealeddual compartmented container with the marginal edge of the innercontainer sealed between the elastomer-covered beaded edge and the innersurface of the annular Vinverted channel. This arrangement provides alower compartment 23 having the pressure-producing medium therein and anupper compartment 25 having the material 26 to be dispensed therein,with a pliant film-type movable wall therebetween, thc upper containerbeing vin communication with the atmosphere through valve means 19(seeFIGURE 2).

The inner conduit of the valve means 21 for dispensing the material fromthe container can be ush with the top inner surface of the closure 17 sothat the bottom of the inner container will assume the shape of theinner surface of the closure to fully evacuate the container. If theconduit is permitted to extend beyond the inner surface of the closure,it will rupture the bag and let the gas escape after substantially allthe ingredients have been dispensed.

The closure head 17 can be secured advantageously to the open-end of aninner container 15 by means of a sealing or cementing medium which actsnot only as a means of retaining the edge of the inner container to theclosure but serves as a gasket therebetween, as shown in FIG- URE 3. Tosecure ,the edge of the inner container, the marginal, shaped edge 18 iscoated or covered with a film of an elastomer material Vwhich adheresthereto and to the edge of the inner container. This structure forms aninner container unit 27 having a depending sac or inner containeradapted to receive the material to be dispensed with a substantiallyfirm .closure 17 which facilitates handling of the unit. In this manner,a measured amount of materials to be dispensed can be deposited into theconfines of the inner container unit through the opening defined by theedge 19 and the unit processed to .treat the materials therein, such asby sterilization and the like. It is understood, however, that thedispensing closure 17 may have an annular insert 20 secured thereto,whereby the material could be charged through the valve means 21 (seeFIGURE 4).

FIGURE 3 shows an alternate form of an inner Acontainer unit 27comprising a closure 30 having a beaded edge 19 defining an openingtherein adapted to receive an annular insert 20 with valve dispensingmeans, as heretofore described, and an outwardly extending fianged edge31. An inner container 32, having a mating outwardly extending flangededge or lip 33, is secured to the under surface of flange 31. Thesecuring may be accomplished by heat sealing or some form of tacking,either mechanical or chemical, or the flangedlip 33 can be treateditself to have an adhesive surface, such as by softening with a solvent.Also, the ange 31 when formed from a plasticlike material or `coatedtherewith .can have an adhesive surface so prepared. The `innercontainer unit thus formed can be filled with the material that is to bedispensed and treated in the unit, as heretofore described, andprocessed to effect a treatment of the materials therein.

The inner container unit, either before filling or there after, can beassembled in an outer container having propellant therein in the case ofa nonrupturable compartmented container, and crimped by turning underthe flanges as a unit to form a crimped edge. The unit can also beformed with an inner container unit, `as heretofore described, in whichthe under-surface of the lip 16 of the inner container can fit 4directly`over a Ibeaded edge 13 (see 'FIGURE 6) and the edge 18 of thedispensing closure formed therearound to produce hermetically sealedcompartments in the assembled dispensing device.

To facilitate assembly of the inner container unit 27 and formation ofthe compartmented dispensing device, the pliant film-type innercontainer can be preformed to any desired shape. It may be shaped to tthe sides of the outer container closely and to extend near the bottomthereof. This arrangement is possible in those devices requiring verylittle space for the gas-producing media (e.g., when the media is in theform of a liquid or solid) because the volume for expansion of the gasas well as the temperature is controlling. As the material is evacuated,more gas is formed by the change in conditions of the factorscontrolling the equilibrium pressure of the gas-producing material.

The inner container units, as heretofore described in detail, can beutilized for mass production charging and sterilization of the productto be dispensed. For example, in the dispensing of foods, such asketchup, mayonnaise, syrups, and the like, the material to be dispensedmust be sterilized immediately before packaging so that harmful bacteriado not grow during the residence of the product in the container. 'I'hemethods of assembly and of filling disclosed in this invention advancethe art of filling and assembling of compartmental dispensing devices byfirst forming the inner container unit, filling this unit through anopening in the closure head, 'and processing the filled container unitby sterilization or other treatment, either before or after closing theinner container unit (see FIGURE 1, reference numeral I), depending uponthe degree of volatilization occuring during the treatment. After thistreatment, the inner container can be assembled in sealed relation withan outer container as heretofore described either before or afterdepositing the pressure-producing medium in the outer container (seeFIGURE l, reference numeral II).

Processing can be accomplished in an autoclave if the treatment is forsterilization of the product to be dispensed. Additionally, forms of rayenergy can be used or any other chemical of physical heating whichrequires handling of a filled inner container to effect a change of thematerial therein.

The pliant film-like container can be preformed from `any type ofplastic material by die extrusion, forming, molding, casting, and thelike. The lip of the preformed plastic container may extend outwardlyfrom the sides of the container in a curled manner and preferably be ofuniform thickness so that proper gasket sealing can be effected. Thepreformed container may be made of Mylar film, which is a trade name fora highly durable transparent, Water repellent film of polyethyleneterephthalate resin characterized by outstanding strength and chemicalinertness. Kel-F resin type may be used, which is a trade name for aline of iluorocarbon products by M. W. Kellogg Company. This film is atriiiuorochloroethylene polymer which is chemically inert and hasoutstanding strength, high thermal stability, resistance to chemicalcorrosion, and ultra-low permeability. Many other pliable materials maybe used, of course, eg., polyethylene, nylon, rubber, cellophane, andthe like. The film, preferably impervious to gas, must be capable ofsome collapsing or movement to effect discharge of the material heldtherein. The thickness of the film will depend, of course, uponconditions under which the pressurized container is operated and thenature and properties of the materialsto be dispensed therefrom. Also,the type of film will depend on the use and conditions to which it isput. It has been found that the wall may be thicker or thinner than thebottom or that the wall may be varied in thickness to provide thedesired degree of collapse. The curled lip can be preformed to fit insnug relationship over the beaded edge of the outer conta-incr and inthe annular rim of the cup-shaped cover.

Any type of elastomer-like material, self-curable or p.s.i. give verygood resul-ts, but higher or lower pressures can be used, depending uponthe nature and physical properties of the material to be dispensed. Whenusing high pressures, the thickness and bursting strength of thecontainer must be taken into consideration. It has also been found thatthe range of pressure is somewhat dependent upon the physical conditionsof the material to be dispensed and the thickness of the film formingthe pliant container.

Since the gas to produce the pressure in the case of non-rupturableinner containers does not come in direct contact with the material to bedispensed, a variety of vaporizable or sublimizable materials may beused to produce a pressure dispensing gas. Also, two or more ingredientsmay be used which react to produce a gas. An example of a liquidpropellant, of course, is Freon. When such a propellant is used,assembly of the container must be carried ou-t under low temperatureconditions or the assembly must be accomplished rapidly. Dry Ice (solidCO2) has been found to perform Very satisfactorily and is an excellentexample of a solid gas-producing material. For example, it is a knownfact that one pound of Dry Ice at '70 F. exerts a pressure of 15 p.s.i.in an 80 cu. ft. container. Thus, a pellet of Dry Ice weighing 4 gramsis sufficient to produce the necessary pressure to evacuate a 6-ouncecontainer. The amount of propellant used, of course (that is, the sizeof the Dry Ice pellet or the amount of liquid propellant), depends uponthe volume of the container and the viscosity and specific gravity ofthe material to be dispensed. When the resistance to dispensing is high,that is, when dispensing a material of high viscosity, more propellantmust be used in order to provide the necessary pressure within thecontainer or a higher pressure-producing propellant must be employed.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in terms ofpreferred embodiments, nevertheless various changes and modificationssuch as are obvious to one skilled in the art are deemed to be Withinthe purview of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of forming a compartmented dispensing device for discharginga treated material under pressure which comprises securing a gasket -tothe edge of a closure having a dispensing opening therein, securing theedge of a sac to said gasket to form an inner container unit; fillingsaid unit through said dispensing opening with product to be dispensed;processing said product to effect a treatment thereof while in saidunit; depositing a pressure-producing medium in an outer containeradapted lto receive said unit; assembling said unit in said outercontainer; and hermetically sealing said unit to said outer containerwith said gasket and edge of sac forming a seal to prevent `thepressure-producing medium from. coming in Contact with said product.

2. The method as claimed in claim l in which the inl ner container unitis filled through valve means forming the opening in said closure. s

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the inner container unit isfilled through an opening in the dispensing closure head before a valvemeans is hermetically sealed thereto.

4. The method as claimed in claim l in which processing of the productis a treatment in an autoclave to effect sterilization thereof.

5. The method as claimed in claim l in which processing of the productis treatment with ray energy 6. The method as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the pressure-producing medium is deposited in the outer compart-'E' ment of the compartmented ,dispensing device after assembly of theinner container unit with the outer container.

7. The method as claimed in claim .1 in which said hermetic sealing isaccomplished by rolling the marginal edge of said closure over the edgeof said outer container.

`8. A method `of forming 4a compartmented dispensing device fordischarging a treated material therefrom under pressure which comprisescovering the under surface of the annuiarchannel of a discharge closurehead having an opening therein with an elastomer-like material.; sealingthe marginal edge of asac to said elastomer-like material to form aninner container unit; filling said `unit through said opening with aproduct to be dispensed; sterilizing said product; depositing apressure-producing medium in an outer container having a beaded edgedeining an opening therein; depending the sac of said iilled inner container unit in said outer container; and forming said mar ginal edge ofsaid channel around said beaded edge to seal the inner container unitwith said outer container with said elastomer-like material and saidmarginal edge of said sac therebetween to form a compartmenteddispensing device with product in one compartment and Spressure-producing medium in the other compartment sealed from eachother.

9. The method of forming a compartmented dispensing device fordischarging a treated material therefrom under pressure as claimed inclaim `8 in which said elastomerlike material forms a gasket.

l0. The method of forming a compartmented dispensing `device forvdischarging a treated material therefrom under pressure as claimed inclaim 8 in which said beaded edge has a gasket attached thereto to sealsaid marginal edge of said sac between said elastomer-like material andsaid gasket attached to said beaded edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,207,813 Stockton Dee. 12, 19'16 2,358,570 Goldberg Sept. 19, 19442,671,578 McEean Mar. 9, 1954 2,748,065 Baier May 29, 1956 2,815,152Mills Dec. 3, 1957 2,823,953 McGeorge Feb. 18, 195,8

